AbaThembu King Dalindyebo's latest bid at freedom fails in ConCourt

Disgraced AbaThembu King, Buyelikhaya Dalindyebo, on Monday suffered a major setback when the Constitutional Court threw out his bid for release from jail.

The King is some eight months into his 12-year prison term, which began just before New Years Day 2016 at the East London Maximum Correctional Centre.

In 2009, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for culpable homicide, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, arson, and kidnapping.

In October last year, the SCA set aside his culpable homicide conviction and reduced his sentence to 12 years.

His crimes involved the treatment he meted out to some of his subjects in 1995 and 1996.

In his latest bid at freedom, the King had asked the Constitutional Court to review of his conviction and sentence.

He also reportedly invited the court to consider establishing a Commission, similar to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, on the development of a customary law, in which he would be tried by a tribunal of elders at a customary court.

However, the ConCourt was unanimous, in dismissing the King's petition saying it lacks prospects of success.